Professor warns: Check the check

Toby Strianese, chairman of Schenectady County Community College’s Hotel, Culinary Arts & Tourism Department, sent along the following note. He and his wife, Pam, are co-authors of two books: “Dining Room and Banquet Management” (fourth edition) and “Math Principles for Food Service Occupations” (fifth edition).

We went to Ruby Tuesday in Clifton Park and we received our bill for $43.52. That was a subtotal of $40.67 and tax of $2.85. On the bottom of the bill it reads, “The following traditional gratuity calculations are based on the total of the check including tax:

15%: $6.53

18%: $7.83

20%: $8.70

Of course, you and I both know that a tip should be on service for food and beverage, not for tax (so it should not be “traditional”).

Since Ruby Tuesday states on the bill it is based on the total of the check including tax, they are informing the consumer, so I guess the buyer should beware. I bet most people don’t bother to do the calculations on the food and beverage which would result in the following:

15%: $6.10

18%: $7.32

20%: $8.13

On the 15% that results in an extra 43 cents. One hundred checks a week results in $43 extra income for the server! For the record, I tip based on the type of service I received. Sometimes it is 20% figured on the tax; just double the amount … easy math; sometimes 25%; and yes sometimes 15% just on the food and beverage if the service is bad.

I am certain that banquet establishments cannot put a gratuity on the tax.

One Response

Hi Steve. Interesting. I just noticed that my Ruby Tuesday receipt said “including tax” so I searched for “traditional gratuity calculations” and yours was the first hit. Lo and behold, your comments were also about Ruby T. I am going to look at the other hits to see if there are any other restaurants that calculate this. Basically I was wanting to research the issue because I want to make sure I didn’t stiff the waiter. I didn’t notice the calculations at the bottom of the receipt until I returned to my desk at work, so I tipped on the pre-tax amt. the difference is only 24 cents, but I don’t want her spitting in my food next time I eat there! Anyway– very interesting!

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